Mesh target and dart capturable therein

ABSTRACT

A dart game which comprises a target in the form of a net which is affixed to a frame which has legs so that the net is supported a spaced distance above a surface upon which the frame is placed. The darts used with the game preferably and advantageously are molded as integral units of plastic, and comprise a shaft having a plurality of fins affixed thereon to guide the flight of the dart and a tip portion on the end of the shaft which is correspondingly sized with the net to engage the net to resist removal of the dart after the tip has once penetrated the net. This tip also preferably has a weight disposed therein and a resilient bumper on its end. The latter and the target permits the game to be played indoors, with the resilient bumper further providing a safety feature.

Tlrtit Qhmela ll tates ate [19] 1 MESH TARGET AND DART CAPTURABLE THEREIN [76] Inventor: John F. Chmela, 7256 W. Davis St., Morton Grove, Ill.

22 Filed: May 10, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 141,658

[ Jan. 6, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 554,437 6/1923 France 273/102 B Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Att0rneyDominik, Knechtel & Godula [5 7] ABSTRACT A dart game which comprises a target in the form of a net which is affixed to a frame which has legs so that the net is supported a spaced distance above a surface upon which the frame is placed. The darts used with the game preferably and advantageously are molded as integral units of plastic, and comprise a shaft having a plurality of fins affixed thereon to guide the flight of the dart and a tip portion on the end of the shaft which is correspondingly sized with the net to engage the net to resist removal of the dart after the tip has once penetrated the net. This tip also preferably has a weight disposed therein and a resilient bumper on its end. The latter and the target permits the game to be played indoors, with the resilient bumper further providing a safety feature.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PMENTEB JAN 3 74 SHEU 1 0f 2 FIG! INVENTOR. JOHN F CHMELA BY KW;

ATTORNEYS.

PAIENTEB I 81914 H sum 2 or 2 FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

JOHN F. CHMELA VM Z fiwew d/ ATTORNEYS.

MESH TARGET AND DART CAPTURABLE THEREIN This invention relates, generally, to a new game and, more particularly, to an improved dart game which can be safely played both indoors and outdoors.

Outdoor field games of darts generally are well known. Generally, these games include a suitable target such as a circle, or a group of concentric circles laid out on the ground and a dart which is thrown in a trajectory that will cause it to stick into the ground within the target area. The object of these games is to throw the dart with as much accuracy as possible, into the target area.

The darts used in these games usually are of a fairly substantial length and have a weighted tip on the one end thereof, which weighted tips generally are pointed to permit them to easily penetrate the ground.

While these games are very popular, the players themselves and even innocent bystanders have frequently occasioned relatively serious injuries in being struck with one of these darts. In particular, the weighted pointed tip on the end of the darts can be a relatively deadly weapon.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game of darts which can be safely played both indoors and outdoors.

Another object is to provide a dart game of the above described type which can be easily collapsed or disassembled for storage and transportation, and easily and quickly assembled for use.

A still further object is to provide a dart game of the above-described type which can be inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The above objectives are accomplished with the dart game of the present invention which comprises, generally, a target in the form of a net which is affixed to a frame which has legs so that the net is supported a spaced distance above a surface upon which the frame is placed. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the net and the frame can be disassembled for storage or transportation, and thereafter easily and quickly assembled for use. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the frame includes a number of frame elements which are hingedtogether so that the frame can be collapsed by folding it.

The darts used with the game preferably and advantageously are molded as integral units of plastic, and comprise a shaft having a plurality of fins affixed thereon to guide the flight of the dart and a tip portion on the end of the shaft which is correspondingly sized with the net to engage the net to resist removal of the dart after the tip has once penetrated the net. This tip also preferably has a weight disposed therein and a resilient bumper on its end. The latter and the target permits the game to be played indoors, with the resilient bumper further providing a safety feature.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the dart game, generally illustrating the manner in which the darts penetrate the net of the target;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the dart game, as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view generally illustrating the construction of the net of the target;

FIG. 4 is a view generally illustrating the manner in which the tip on the darts engage with the net to resist removal of the dart once its tip has penetrated the net;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the corner connectors used to assemble the frame of the target, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the net tension ing clips used in conjunction with the frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a target having a frame which is hinged in a fashion such that it may be collapsed by folding it;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of one of the darts;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the dart of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines l0-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a similar sectional view taken along the same lines III-10 of FIG. 8, illustrating an alternative construction of the tip of the dart.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an indoor-outdoor dart game 10 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The dart game 10 includes at least one target, and preferably two, in the form of a net 12 affixed to and supported by a frame 11 and at least one dart 13, but here again, preferably several darts for each of the individual players are provided. When several darts for each individual player are provided, the darts preferably and advantageously are colored differently, so that each player can easily and quickly recognize his own darts. The darts are thrown in a trajectory that will cause them to stick into the net of the target and, of

course, the object of the game is to throw the darts with as much accuracy as possible into the target. The target or, more precisely, the net 12 can have scoring rings 15 in the form of concentric circles or the like printed or otherwise affixed thereto so that the individual players can score themselves on the accuracy of their throws. While only a single target can be used, with each of the individual players throwing at the same target, preferably at least two targets are provided so that the players can alternately throw at each of these targets, or each player can throw at a predetermined one of the two targets.

The target of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a frame 11 which is constructed of four side frame members in the form of dowels 14 which are circular in cross-section and four corner connectors 16 (FIG. 5).

These corner connectors 16 preferably and advantageously are molded of plastic in the form of a generally L-shaped body member 17 having dowel receiving cavities 18 therein which are correspondingly formed to frictionally receive the ends of the dowels 14 forming the side frame members of the frame 11. With this construction, the frame 11 can be easily and quickly assembled by merely frictionally extending the ends of the dowels 14 into the dowel receiving cavities 1% to form a square or rectangular shaped frame 1 1, as illustrated.

These corner connectors 16 further are formed to receive therein the one end of other dowels 14 forming legs for the frame 11. The ends of these dowels 14 forming the legs are likewise frictionally received within a dowel leg receiving cavity 19 which depends downwardly from the L-shaped body member, preferably at an angle perpendicular to the L-shaped body member.

The net 12 affixed to and supported by the frame 11 generally is of an ordinary construction having string 22 or the like woven to form a latticed network, with an edging 23 of fabric or the like about its perimeter. A grommet 24 is provided in each of the four corners of the net 12, for affixing the net to the frame 11. For this purpose, each of the corner connectors 16 has a net retaining pin 20 which is formed to extend through one of the grommets 24, as illustrated. Once the net 12 is affixed to the frame 11 by extending the net retaining pins 20 through the grommets 24 in the net, the net can be stretched to tension it on the frame 11, by means of a number of net tensioner clips 26. These net tensioner clips 26, as can be best seen in FIG. 6, also preferably and advantageously are molded of plastic, and have a large U-shaped loop 27 on one end thereof which is formed to frictionally and lockingly engage about the dowels 14 forming the side frame members of the frame 12. The net tensioner clips 26 also have a smaller U-shaped loop 28 on the opposite end thereof which are formed to engage with the string 22 of the net 12. In tensioning the net 12, the loop 28 of the net tensioner clip 26 is engaged with the string 22 of the net, and then the loop 27 is clipped about the dowel 14, to stretch the net to the desired tension.

The darts 13, as can be best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, include a shaft portion 30 having a number (four as illustrated) of fins 31 radially affixed thereto for guiding the flight of the darts 13, and a tip 32 on the end thereof. The tip 32 is ofa larger diameter than the shaft 30 so as to provide a net engaging flange 33 on the dart 13. The tip 32 also preferably and advantageously is tapered to a smaller diameter from the net engaging flange 33 t its end, to permit the tip 32 to more easily penetrate the net 12.

The tip 32 also preferably has a weight insert 35 therein, and a resilient bumper 34 of rubber or the like on its end. The darts 13 preferably and advantageously are molded as integral units of plastic. Accordingly, in molding the same, a weight receiving cavity can be molded into the tip 32, and the weight insert 35 thereafter secured therein by a frictional fit. The resilient bumper 34 can be affixed to the end of the tip 32 by forming the weight insert 35 and the resilient bumper 34 in a fashion such as to permit a tongue and groove type snap fit of the two members together, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the resilient bumper 34 can be formed with a stern insert 37 which is adapted to frictionally fit within a cavity formed in the weight insert 35, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

As indicated above, the object of the game is to throw the darts in a trajectory such that the darts will penetrate the net 12 of the target. When the darts l3 strike the net 12 of the target, it is apparent that the resiliency of the net will cause it to deflect downwardly. Accordingly, the length of the legs affixed to the frame 11 of the target preferably are of a lenth such that the ends of the darts 13 will not strike the surface under the target during normal playing of the game. In this respect, the legs affixed to the frame all can be of the same length so that the target surface is parallel to the surface upon which the frame is seated, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, or alternatively, two of the legs can be of a greater length so that the target presents a sloped target surface.

When the darts l3 strike the target and the tips 32 penetrate the net 12, it is apparent that the resiliency of the net 12 will tend to cause the darts, even though they penetrate the net 12, to bounce off ofthe net. This tendency on the part of the darts 13 to bounce off of the net 12 is substantially, if not completely, eliminated by proportioning the diameter of the net engaging flange 33 so that it is slightly larger than the openings in the net 12. When the tips 32 on the darts penetrate the net, the net engaging flanges 33, upon rebound, engage with the string 22 of the net, as illustrate in FIG. 4, and thereby resist the removal of the tip 32 and hence the dart 13 from the net 12.

The resilient bumper 34 on the end of the tip 32 of the darts 13 function as a safety device to prevent injury to anyone who may be accidentally struck by one of the darts 13. In addition, these resilient bumpers 34 permit the darts to be thrown indoors, since they prevent the darts from marring the floor or other objects.

From the above description, it can be seen that the dart game constructed in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled and, when disassembled, compactly packaged for storage or transportation. Accordingly, this construction provides a dart game 10 which can be conveniently and easily carried in the trunk of a car or the like so that the game can be easily assembled for play while camping or picknicking.

An alternate construction for the frame of the target is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this case, at least two of the side frame members are divided in half and are hinged by means of hinges 41 in a fashion such that the entire frame can be collapsed by folding it. Bar-type locks 42 are provided on the hinged side frame members to lock them in open position when the game is to be used. The net 12, in this case, can be permanently secured to the frame or, alternatively, net retaining pins can be provided on the frame so that the net can be affixed thereto in the manner described above. Legs (not shown) can be hingedly or otherwise affixed to the frame to support the frame above a surface, for the reasons set forth above.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and certain changes may be made in the above article. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An indoor-outdoor dart game comprising, in combination: at least one target comprising a frame supporting a net a spaced distance above the surface upon which said frame is resting, said frame including a plurality of side frame members and a plurality of connectors formed to removably ireceive and to couple said side frame members together to form said frame and having net supporting pins formed thereon, said net being formed to engage with said net supporting pins to affix said net to said frame, a plurality of legs, said connectors further being formed to removably receive said legs in a fashion such that said legs support said frame above said surface, whereby said frame can be collapsed for storage and transporting it by dis-assembling said side frame members, said legs and said connectors, and at least one dart comprising a shaft having fins thereon for guiding the flight of said dart when thrown and a tip on one end of said shaft, said tip being of a diameter larger than said shaft and thereby forming a net engaging flange at the juncture of said shaft and said tip, the diameter of said net engaging flange and the openings in said net supported by said frame being proportioned such that said net engaging flange will engage the net to resist the removal of said dart when said tip thereon is extended through said net.

2. The indooroutdoor dart game of claim 1, further I including a plurality of tension clips, each of which is 3. The indoor-outdoor dart game'of claim 2 wherein each of said connectors is molded as an integral unit of plastic with two side frame member receiving cavities therein which are disposed at an angle of to one another and a leg receiving cavity disposed perpendicular to said side frame member receiving cavities, said side frame member and said leg receiving cavities .corresponding to the cross-sectional shape and size of said side frame members and said legs to frictionally receive one end of one of said side frame members and said legs therein, whereby said frame is assembled by fitting said side frame members, said legs and said connectors together, and the net supporting pin extending upright from said connector.

4. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, wherein said dart is molded as an integral unit of plastic.

5. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, wherein said dart has a weight disposed within said tip.

6. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, further having a resilient bumper affixed to the end of said tip. I! 1 

1. An indoor-outdoor dart game comprising, in combination: at least one target comprising a frame supporting a net a spaced distance above the surface upon which said frame is resting, said frame including a plurality of side frame members and a plurality of connectors formed to removably receive and to couple said side frame members together to form said frame and having net supporting pins formed thereon, said net being formed to engage with said net supporting pins to affix said net to said frame, a plurality of legs, said connectors further being formed to removably receive said legs in a fashion such that said legs support said frame above said surface, whereby said frame can be collapsed for storage and transporting it by dis-assembling said side frame members, said legs and said connectors, and at least one dart comprising a shaft having fins thereon for guiding the flight of said dart when thrown and a tip on one end of said shaft, said tip being of a diameter larger than said shaft and thereby forming a net engaging flange at the juncture of said shaft and said tip, the diameter of said net engaging flange and the openings in said net supported by said frame being proportioned such that said net engagIng flange will engage the net to resist the removal of said dart when said tip thereon is extended through said net.
 2. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, further including a plurality of tension clips, each of which is adapted to be removably engaged with said net and said side frame member to stretch said net to tension it on said frame.
 3. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 2 wherein each of said connectors is molded as an integral unit of plastic with two side frame member receiving cavities therein which are disposed at an angle of 90* to one another and a leg receiving cavity disposed perpendicular to said side frame member receiving cavities, said side frame member and said leg receiving cavities corresponding to the cross-sectional shape and size of said side frame members and said legs to frictionally receive one end of one of said side frame members and said legs therein, whereby said frame is assembled by fitting said side frame members, said legs and said connectors together, and the net supporting pin extending upright from said connector.
 4. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, wherein said dart is molded as an integral unit of plastic.
 5. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, wherein said dart has a weight disposed within said tip.
 6. The indoor-outdoor dart game of claim 1, further having a resilient bumper affixed to the end of said tip. 